Ramp up Your iPad Use

Too often, iPads end up like a babysitter–students love them, can get lost in their fun, but forget inquiry. My efriend, David over at Dakinane.com, and I got in a long conversation about that. Turns out, he’s put a lot of thought to that very question and has some innovative solutions. He wrote a wonderful article addressing those concerns and how to fix them, with a video that shows more details. Here’s the gyst of it, as well as a link back to the original:

I have just written an article for Interface Magazine about how to best use an iPad in the classroom. I wrote the article in response to my own observations about how iPads are being used and also in response to a blog post written by Tom Whitby, who did the Emporer’s New Clothes task of stating that a worksheet is still a worksheet, even when it is on an iPad. This echoes my own observations with teachers who use an iPad in their classroom. They tend to use this high tech device to deliver low level learning. The trouble is to the casual observer, it looks great to see engaged students working enthusiastically on their shiny new iPads in a classroom, but what learning is happening? I have also been part of a conversation with Jacqui Murray who was sharing her thoughts on the best apps for a classroom. I shared my thoughts on formative assessment and publishing, points which she agreed on.

When I work with teachers who are using iPads in their classroom, I get them to audit their apps and to ask so what? questions of the apps. I need for them to know the learning and formative assessment potential of each of their apps. If the apps is unjustified busy work, it is scrapped. I then introduce this concept I have developed called layering, where the best features of one app are used to create content that can be enhanced in another app. I get the teachers to base the learning intention outputs around the workflow of several apps.

You can see what I mean in the video below. If you are struggling to get the best out of your iPad or are having trouble creating a sustainable blended elearning environment in your school, please contact me for a free initial consultation meeting.

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